SpeciationThe formation of new species.

• In evolutionary terms a species is a group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring; they do not breed successfully with other populations

The Biological Species Concept

Reproductive isolation is the existence of biological factors (barriers) that impede two species from producing viable, fertile offspring

Reproductive isolation can be classified by whether factors act before or after fertilization

Reproductive Isolation

Prezygotic barriers block fertilization from occurring by:

◦ Impeding different species from attempting to mate – courtship rituals, timing, and/or habitat

◦ Preventing the successful completion of mating - Morphological differences can prevent successful mating

◦ Hindering fertilization if mating is successful - Sperm of one species may not be able to fertilize eggs of another species

Postzygotic barriers prevent the hybrid zygote from developing into a viable, fertile adult:

◦ Reduced hybrid viability - Genes of the different parent species may interact and impair the hybrid’s development

◦ Reduced hybrid fertility - Even if hybrids are vigorous, they may be sterile

◦ Hybrid breakdown - Some first-generation hybrids are fertile, but when they mate with another species or with either parent species, offspring of the next generation are feeble or sterile

Fig. 24-4a

Habitat Isolation Temporal Isolation

Prezygotic barriers

Behavioral Isolation

Matingattempt

Mechanical Isolation

(f)(e)(c)(a)

(b)

(d)

Individualsof

differentspecies

Fig. 24-4iPrezygotic barriers

Gametic Isolation

Fertilization

Reduced Hybrid Viability

Postzygotic barriers

Reduced Hybrid FertilityHybrid Breakdown

Viable,fertile

offspring

(g) (h) (i)

(j)

(l)

(k)

Reproductive barriers may lead to speciation.

Speciation, the origin of new species, is at the focal point of evolutionary theory

Speciation

Fig. 24-5

(a) Allopatric speciation (b) Sympatric speciation

Speciation can occur in two ways:1. Allopatric

Speciation2. Sympatric

Speciation

In allopatric speciation, gene flow is interrupted or reduced when a population is divided into geographically isolated subpopulations

Allopatric (“Other Country”) Speciation

The definition of barrier depends on the ability of a population to disperse

Separate populations may evolve independently through mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift

The Process of Allopatric Speciation

Fig. 24-6

A. harrisi A. leucurus

Allopatric Speciation of antelope squirrels on opposite rims of the Grand Canyon.

In sympatric speciation, speciation takes place in geographically overlapping populations

Sympatric (“Same Country”) Speciation

Polyploidy is the presence of extra sets of chromosomes due to accidents during cell division

Polyploidy is much more common in plants than in animals

Polyploidy

2n = 6 4n = 12Failure of celldivision afterchromosomeduplication givesrise to tetraploidtissue.

2nGametesproducedare diploid..

4nOffspring withtetraploidkaryotypes maybe viable andfertile.

Sympatric speciation can also result from the appearance of new ecological niches

For example, the North American maggot fly can live on native hawthorn trees as well as more recently introduced apple trees

Habitat Differentiation

Sexual selection can drive sympatric speciation

Sexual selection for mates of different colors has likely contributed to the speciation in cichlid fish in Lake Victoria

Sexual Selection

EXPERIMENTNormal lightMonochromatic

orange lightP.pundamilia

P. nyererei

In allopatric speciation, geographic isolation restricts gene flow between populations

Reproductive isolation may then arise by natural selection, genetic drift, or sexual selection in the isolated populations

Even if contact is restored between populations, interbreeding is prevented

In sympatric speciation, a reproductive barrier isolates a subset of a population without geographic separation from the parent species

Sympatric speciation can result from polyploidy, natural selection, or sexual selection

Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation: A Review

The fossil record includes examples of species that appear suddenly, persist essentially unchanged for some time, and then apparently disappear

Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould coined the term punctuated equilibrium to describe periods of apparent stasis punctuated by sudden change

The punctuated equilibrium model contrasts with a model of gradual change in a species’ existence - known as gradualism. Darwin supported the idea of slow gradual change.

Transition species found in the fossil record are a key component to gradualism.

Patterns Of Evolution

Fig. 24-17

(a) Punctuated pattern

(b) Gradual pattern

Time